Apparatus for softening silk, yarn, and the like



Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,923

' H. MAYER y APPARATUS FOR SOFTENlNG SILK, YARN, AND THE LIKE Filed March 3, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gal III

llIlllA'l/llllllllll v :U A /5 o /6 1"1 Z/ 2% /l /////////////i///////////////{/// INVENTOR:

Sept. 18, 1928.

H. MAYER APPARATUS FOR SOFTENlNG SILK, YARN, AND THE LIKE Filed March S, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q4/1MM Mw/VENTO@ S n .N R m T A .l

sept. 18, 192s. 1,684,923

H. MAYER K APPARATUS FOR SOFTENlNG SILK, YARN, AND THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1928 s sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

Patented Sept.- 1 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

anima, or rammen, rnNNsYLvANIA.

maneras ron somme sim, YARN, um m mam Application led Hatch 3, 1928. Serial No. 258,792.

especially to apparatus in which the silk 5 yarn, cotton' or other thread is treated as by a lubricating, oiling, dyeing, or moistening operation as it passes from the bobbin or cone to a knitting or weaving machine the purpose of which is to soften the silk, yarn,

19 or cotton threads prior to utilization upon thedparticular machine upon which it is use The leading object of the present invention is the provision of a novel device arranged to moisten, oil, dye, or similarly treat silk, worsted, cotton or other yarns as they pass from the bobbin or cone to a knitting or other machine, particularly in passage from a` bobbin to the needles of a knitting` ma- 20. chine.-

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the character stated in which felt wicks areprovided which absorb the water or other liquid emtion is to provide apparatus of the Vcharacter stated in which winding apparatus is eliminated due to the fact that winding and rewinding to reduce hardness and stiffness of the threads employed can, by my novel apparatus embodied in the present invention,

4 be eliminated. a

A further object -of the present invention,

is to provide a heating unit connected upon a motor line whereby when the motor' is not in operationV the heating unit is out'of commission; a'nd vice versa, when the motor is in operation the heating unit functions, so as to operate the apparatus so that when the temperaturetherein reaches a height beyond the softening point ofY the silk, yarn, or cotton,- thereupon through thermostatic connections, the heating unit is automatically ployed in the softening of the silk, yarn, or`

cut off, thereby permitting of proper softening of the artlcle to be operated upon.

A still further object of the resent invention is to provide'means 4where y an electric heating unit is utilized in order that water or other liquid and the silk, yarn thread or other material being operated upon may be simultaneously heated, moistened and softened, which heating element underv the increase of units of temperature generates a vapor which moistens and softens the yarn, thread or silk for the desired urposes'.

Otherand further objects reside in the provisions of novel features of-con'struction and in the novel arrangement combination and connection of parts as will hereinafter appear.

The struction hereinafter described -and finally claimed.. y v

For the purpose offillustrating my invention I' have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at preisent preferred by lme, since the same has been found in practice to rgive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise -arrangement and organization of the, instru-l mentalities. v l, f

Figure 1,- representsv a softener embodying my invention.

Figure 2, represents a vertical section, taken .upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1. c

Figure 3, represents an end view of Figure 1. Y

Figure 4, represents a vertical section, takenu'pon the line 4.-4 of Figure 2.

FigureA 5, is a view in elevatlon, partly sectioned, illustrating the device embodying the invention applied to a'knitting machlne:

.Figure 6, is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7, is a view in horizontal crosssection taken upon the line 7 7 of Figure 2, showing the electric heater and lts adjuncts. l D

Referring to drawings, in which simllar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, 1 designatesga generally rectangular or other shaped receptacle arranged to con# tain water or other liquid, the liquid being designated :2. Withinthe receptacle 1 there arearranged Wicks 3 partly submerged in the invention consists of the novel conv-r.

plan view ofa silk' 5 supported upon a ledge 5, and has its forward end inserted, in the pocket or seat 6 formed between the forward end of the ledge 5 and the juxtaposed wall of the receptacle 1. Arranged to travel over these wicks 3 is 1 0 the silk, yarn, cotton or other thread 7, which material is fed from a bobbin or cone 8, s ee Fig. 5, to, for example, the needles 9 of a knit- .ting machine, which for explanatory. purposes, only, is shown asbeing a Hat knlttmg machme in Fig. 6. The silk, yarn, or cotton threads 7 in passing through the moistener receptacle 1 are guided through the inlet eyelets 10, and egress through the exit eyelets'11. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, one

l0 end as the right hand end of the receptacle 1 is formed upon an arc of a circle, and the opposite end is provided with opposed lugs 12, through which lugs pass a supporting rod which is`supported from the rod 13 forming part of the knitting machine. The bottom of the receptacle 1 is provided with a single lug 14'which is also supported from the rod 13. The forward and lower part of the receptacle 1 is provided with a compartment therear wall 1S of compartment 15. This 30 or electric oven 15, see Fig. 7, which is separated and a art from the major portion of the receptac e 1. Within this compartment 15 there is arranged an electric heating unit designated 16, supported by bolts '17, from heater is employed to heat the liquid within receptacle 1, and the wicks 3, andl thereafter to moisten or soften the yarn, silk, or cotton thread 7 passing through receptacle 1. The bolts 17 are in electrlcal connection with any suitable source of electric power, as a motor, not shown, and the motor is electrically connected with a regulator 19 and a thermostatic control device 20, see' Fig. 6, conventional electric wiring 21--22 being provided.V

4Heat being delivered to the heating elementi 1,6 .by the electrical connections the liquid contained in receptacle 1 is thereafter raised in temperature, t ere being a passage 23 communicating with the receptacle 1, and

leading to an opening or space 24 to permit the ,Feat to pass from the oven 15 to the receptacle 1 The receptacle 1 is' provided with a removable cover 25, so that the interior of the receptacle 1 may be readily inspected.- The receptacle 1 is provided with a guage 26 in order to determine the liquid levelin the receptacle 1, which gauge may be of conventional form and communicates at its lower end with the pipe 27, which communicates with the bottom ofthe receptacle at the lpoint 28.

Thi e my device will function cliiciently With the two felt wicks 3 already described,

over which the silk, yarn or other thread passes it may be desirable tov employ a third piece of wicking, 29 as seen in Flg.v 2, the silk or yarn to be moistened passing over the wicks 3 and below the superimposed lat wick 29. The liquid 2 is supplied to the receptacle through the inlet pipes 30 which discharge into the T 31, from which leads therespectively the front rod 39 which passes through the lug 12 and the rear rod 40 which passes throu h The rear adjusts) the rod 13 may also be employed, which is connectedv with the upper end of the link 36. By the adjust-ment of the collars 37, 38 land 41 with respect to the rod 13, it will be a parent, that the thread molstener can vquickly adjusted to any desired position with the rear bottom 1u 14. le collar 41 mounte on reference to the knitting machine. vThe electrie wire conduits 42 effectively enclose the wiring and it will be seen that ther heatin unit is inclosed in a separate chamber and further that the wiring connections are effectively protected from any moisture beingtotally enclosed and fire proof. .Y

` The receptacle 1 can be made of any suitable material as cast iron, white met-al, brass,

copper, porcelain, or glass. The heatingunit in the oven or'chamber 15 is easily accessible and likewise its connections in the Wiring chamber.

Myl novel softener can be attached to a full fashioned hosiery machine, a circular knitting machine or to silk spinning;`Y weaving and winding machines as 1s evident. f

The electric heating element 16 has an imlui portant function, since it not only heats the water, felt and the threads which are to be softened, but it also has a tendency as the temperature increases to generate a vapor which softens and lubricates the thread and the resultant fabric into which thev thread is knitted.

The heating unit being inclosed in'a separate chamber or oven 15, inthe front of the 'casing and below the liquid. effectively heats the latter, and the heat rises and escapes through the -passages 23 and 24 best seen in Figure 2, into the liquid-chamber and impinges upon the wicks and threads passing thereover. The heating unit is firmly clamped to and supported from the wall 18, as will be understood from Figures 2 and 7.

mamas InY practice the heating is connectedon motor lines, so that when the motor is not in operation 'the heating unit is not in ature between 80 and 200 Fahrenheit.

The receptacle 1 can be filled to the desired height with water or any other. liquids with Y the felt wicks 3 partly submerged. These wicks w'll at all times absorb the various liquids and will always be saturated. As the threads pass over and Contact with said felt wicks they will absorb the water or liquids used, and in so doing will be readily lubricated, softened and moistened, making the threads so flexible, that the life of the needles and guides which otherwise are liable to break or become fractured by the hardness of the threads, will be indefinitely prolonged.

The use of my novel device further elimi- 'natos the use of some winding machinery, as today many of the threads or yarns can be ypurchased on cones and can be used as purchased directly on the knitting machine. In many cases at the present time, however, silk and likethreads are wound and rewound many times in. order to take the hardness and stiffness out of them. My novel device dispenses with this procedure, since it lubricetes and softens the threads and the resultant fabric and thereby saves an extra operation of re-winding the fabric in order to apply some sort of a lubricant thereto.

By the pipe lines 30, water, oil or any dye- .mg liquid can bereadily supplied to the passage 33. This pipe line or supply is in praetice connected to eachsoftener and on hosiery machines, one softener is used for each secvtlon, that is for knitting machines having sections, there w'll be 20 softener-s. This pipe line preferablyterminates in a reservon` (not shown) in which any desired liquid may be stored and will be governed by a valve (not shown) which when opened will supply each unit, each of the latter being provided with an-overilow. The guiding devices 10 and 11 can be eyelets, or split guides through which the threads pass. These 'guides can be either two piece or solid, with straight holes therethrough, or if desired, porcelain, copper, brass or glass tubes ex-- tending through the walls of the softenerVv can he used in place thereof, which tubes may also be used for heating and lubricating purposes. Y

The rear wall of the softener is preferably constructed of crescent shape in order to ob- .tain more surface for the reception of the guides 10, and thereby making it easier for the threads to enter the same. It will be apparent that if desired the rear end of the casing or receptacle can be made fiat the same as the front end.

It will be apparent that as the threads pass through the softener, as seen in Figure 2 they will be eiiectivcly moisten'ed, oiled or lubricated.

My device is especially applicable to knitting machines of the straight o1- c`rcular type adapted for the knitting of ladies silk hosiery, which is at the present time so eX- tensively in vogue.l i

I am aware that the invention ma be embodied in other specific forms wit out departing from the spi-it or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the' present unbodiinent to' be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to inditate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what .I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent` is zl1. In a device ofthe character stated, al

moistening receptacle havinga chamber adapted to contain a liquid, a bar in the upper portion thereof, a wick supported on said bar and having its ends submerged in said liquid, front and rear guiding devices for the threads to be moistened, a heating Ychamber in said receptacle and below the liquid chamber therein arranged isolated from the latter at` all times, and a heating element for said chamber also isolated from said liquid. 2. In a Idevice of the character stated, a moisteninv receptacle having a chamber adapted for the reception ofa liquid, an electric heater for said liquid, a chamber below said liquid chamber in which said heater is positioned having a passage leading from the upper portion thereof said heater being isolated from said liquid at lall times, a plurality of wicks -supported in said receptacle and ,havino' their ends submerged in said liquid, andv an inlet conduit for conducting liquid to said receptacle, the heat from said heater passing' around said inlet conduit.

3. In a device of the character stated, a receptacle adapted to receive a liquid, a cross bar in the upper portion of said receptacle, a pocket in the front of said receptacle, a wick supported on said cross bar and having its front end positioned in said pocket with its rear end submerged in said liquid, a heating oven in the lower portion of said receptacle, and apassage leading therefrom into the upper portion of said receptacle above said liquid.

4. In a device ofthe character stated, a receptacle having a front Wall and a cresrent shaped 'rear wall, guide devices in said front and rear walls, cross bars in the upper lio portionof said receptacle, s. plurality of wicks supported on said cross bars, a pocket in the front portion of said receptacle in which the front end of the front. wick is yseated, an upper flat wick resting upon said plurality of wicks, a heatinm chamber in the` lower forward portion of said receptacle but separated from the liquid chamber, an electric heater therein, and a passage leading from said heating chamber to the upper portion of said receptacle.

5. In a device of the character stated, a liquid receiving chamber, an electrically heated chamber below and in front of the liquid chamber,'thread guiding devices in the front and rear of said first named cham'- ber, a plurality of lower wicks suppdrted in said liquid chamber, an upper wick superl imposed upon said lower wicks, the threadsl passing between said '-wicks,y and a'passage 20 from said heating chamber for conducting heat against one of said lower wicks an thence into said liquid chamber.

6. In a device of the character stated, a

liquid receiving chamber,,an electrically 25 heated ehambcrbelow' and in front of the liquid chambenthread guiding devices in into said liquid chamber, and a removable 35 cover vvfor said liquid chamber.

HEnMAN. MAYER. 

